NEWPORTERS, JUST, IN MURRAYFIELD MONSOON
Edinburgh: 8 (0) Newportgwentdragons: 9 (9)
It's always a joy to watch two sides battling it out in perfect conditions for running rugby. With the turf firm underfoot, there's no better time for rugby than a pleasantly warm evening blessed by a gentle breeze.
There was none of that at Murrayfield tonight though. Instead, the brave souls who battled through the tempest encountered the sort of climatic conditions that made the visiting Newporters feel very much at home. This is not the sort of evening that suits Edinburgh's Plan A. And the Dragons are this season a better team than many give them credit for. This was never going to be an easy game and so it proved.
Visiting stand off Arlidge was first on the board with a penalty on 17 minutes. He notched another one seven minutes later to give Newport an early lead. Newport were keeping the ball in Edinburgh's half and doing the simple things well. Another Arlidge penalty after half an hour gave the Dragons a handy nine point lead in the horrendous conditions. A further blow saw Ben Cairns retire with a knee injury, replaced by Mark Robertson.
The Gunners had the odd spark, with a fine Visser counter lighting up the closing stages of the first period being one. But they just were not able to get into the groove. Meanwhile, Newport played the ball in the enemy half - something they have had a tendency to do effectively in these tussles over the years - and took the penalty chances when referee Lewis was inclined to give them.
Nine points down at the break, Edinburgh started the second period well. Some good pressure inside the Newport 22 saw them carve open an opportunity on the left, but Ford couldn't hold the pass. There then followed a series of attacking Edinburgh scrums in the Newport red zone, Lewis giving Newport a couple of chances before finally penalising them for a scrum offence. Laidlaw went for scrum again. The home pack had more than an edge and a pushover try looked on. But the momentum stalled. Yet although the Gunners pounded the Newport line, the pack couldn't drive over and the Dragons managed to clear their lines. Again, Embra came back strongly and only a brilliant tackle stopped Visser dancing over in traffic.
Another Newport scrum infringement, another Edinburgh scrum five yards out. Newport were under severe pressure, yet managed to hold Embra just short. The number of Newport penalties was mounting and one wondered when Lewis would get his card out. Another penalty, another scrum five. But the Embra ball was slow and the pick and drives telegraphed. Another penalty after Edinburgh had spun the ball across field. This time, Edinburgh wisely went for the points. Godman made no mistake on 57 minutes, but one felt that referee Lewis should have done more than simply given the Newport skipper a final warning.
No matter. The momentum was definitely with Embra and the pack was on top in the set piece. Surely the amount of tackling Newport had had to do would tell in the closing quarter. But a basic handling error from Andy Turnbull pinned Edinburgh back in their own 22 from the restart when they really needed to get right back on the offensive.
Another mazy Visser run saw Emnbra deep into Newport territory, the ball being shipped well inside through many hands. Yet the ball was lost at the breakdown. Edinburgh were upping the pace, though, and the quick ball was putting Newport under ever more pressure.
At last, the try came. A fabulous Hogg Breenge smashed through the cover. Though tackled, he offloaded well, good link play by Roddy Grant put Nick de Luca in space. The snake-hipped centre's fine pass put Andy 'Turny' Turnbull away, The Human Hamster diving triumphantly over in the right corner on 64 minutes. Godman missed the difficult conversion and a dropped goal five minutes later. But Edinburgh were motoring, de Luca, Hogg, Blair and Newlands, in particular, shining with ten minutes on the clock and the Dragons' tactical injuries disrupting play as they held on to a slender one point margin.
Five minutes on the clock, Edinburgh surged into Newport territory, Blair brilliantly directing proceedings. de Luca made great ground dancing through tackles, but was rightly pinged for holding on in the tackle when he was eventually nailed. Would this be Edinburgh's last chance? It looked like it as they nearly gave away an interception try with a couple of minutes to go.
Last throw of the dice - Edinburgh scrummage in their own 22. But they could not force their way to the other end of the park and it was the Dragons who emerged with the win. They had played the referee perfectly and emerged with a valuable four points.
Meanwhile, Edinburgh enter the first international break with the losing bonus point taking them to second equal in the table (with, among others, Glasgow), three points behind leaders Leinster. Embra remain the league's highest scorers and have secured a bonus point from two of their three losses thus far. Plenty to work on before their crucial Heineken double header against Bath. The continued inability to press home the advantage against limited but combative sides such as the Dragons is a concern. But plenty of encouragement too, given that their next away trip in the Magners is the eminently winnable visit to the struggling Scarlets.
SCORERS:
Edinburgh: Godman 1P, Turnbull 1T
Newport: Arlidge 3P
TEAMS:
Edinburgh: Steve Jones, John Houston, Ben Cairns, Nick De Luca, Tim Visser, Phil Godman, Greig Laidlaw, Allan Jacobsen, Ross Ford, Geoff Cross, Steve Turnbull, Scott MacLeod, Scott Newlands, Alan MacDonald, Allister Hogg (capt)
Dragons: Jason Tovey; Aled Brew; Tom Riley, Matthew Watkins; Richard Fussell; James Arlidge, Wayne Evans; Hugh Gustafson, Steve Jones (capt), Patrick Palmer, Rob Sidoli, Adam Jones, Hoani Macdonald, Gavin Thomas, Grant Webb
Referee: Lewis (IRFU)